World's Highest Standard of Living, 1937

Margaret Bourke-White

In the winter of 1937 the Ohio River flooded and thousands—already hit hard by the Great Depression—became homeless. A star photographer for Life magazine, Margaret Bourke-White was soon on the scene to capture this iconic period picture. Natural disasters come and go. What makes this image stick is its more than ironic juxtaposition of a somber breadline and the very cheery billboard above it.